"In countries where there are strong palliative care associations, the laws have been implemented more effectively". This was stated at the University of Navarra by Liliana de Lima, director of the association International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Centers(IAHPC). The expert gave a master lecture of the ATLANTES Program of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) on international advances in palliative care.

De Lima affirmed that an advocacy strategy is needed to promote access to these healthcare services for patients. He considered that although in some countries legislation has been passed at C , "a law does not guarantee access" and national programs can vary as political changes in governments take place.

"The dignity of the person exists from the moment he or she is born until the moment of death; it cannot be allowed that for the social-health system dignity is more important when the patient can still be cured," he demanded. "We cannot remain passive in the face of suffering."

The director of the IAHPC praised the good performance of some countries in the field of palliative care, such as Australia or Costa Rica. With respect to Spain, she stressed that "there are centers that do very good research, such as the University of Navarra, and that is an opportunity. It would be wonderful if the good models of research could be replicated in other places".

Develop palliative care in academic programs.

Finally, Liliana De Lima stressed the need to promote the implementation of palliative care in the academic programs of future healthcare professionals at development .

Liliana De Lima (Colombia) graduated in Psychology in 1984 and completed master's degrees in Clinical Psychology (1991) and in Health Care Administration (2000). In 1996 she completed a research stay with the Pain and Policy Studies Group, partner center of the World Health Organization, at the University of Wisconsin (USA). From 1998 to 2000 she worked as Director of the Palliative Care department at the University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

Since 1999 she has been executive director of the association International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Centers (IAHPC) and since 2000 she has served as president of the Latin American Palliative Care association . In 2014 she was distinguished by the association most important international on the study of pain. She is also a collaborator of the ATLANTES Program of the ICS. She is currently pursuing the doctorate in health care policy and administration.